Despite more people in society falling outside what is considered the norm we still struggle as a species when presented with these outliers, unsure what to do when something refuses to fit with our views of the world and how things are supposed to be.

Your best guide in how to navigate this whole thing will be your partner.

After all, he’s been through this sort of things a hundred times or more.

He knows what questions will likely come your way and what the best responses are.

We’re so keen to meet your new boyfriend… (Picture: IPGGutenbergUKLtd)

He’ll also be there to offer support if some of your family or friends react negatively and refuse to try and open their mind to understand.

The sad fact of life as a transgender person is that rejection, ridicule and fear come as part of the package, even when transgender people have more to fear from those they are coming out to than the recipients have from the transgender person.

Discuss your fears, ask for his advice.

He’ll gladly offer it as he will no doubt want to be accepted by your family as much as you want him to be.

Each person is different and no blog post shorter than a novel could hope to cover them all.

However, one thing that is going to be universal is the need for patience.

Find a way to explain things in terms you know your friends and family are going to understand, and that might mean developing more than one strategy.